Backpack and Beer

Friday, March 3, 2023

Seneca Creek w/kids

7/19 - 7/22/22 (3 nights)

2022 Bag Nights: 18
Seneca Creek, West Virginia

All cell phone photos

I met my brother-in-law and his wife and kids for our sorta annual backpacking trip. We decided to check out the Seneca Creek area instead of going back to the Dolly Sods.

We met at Spruce Knob, the highest point in WV. There is a lookout tower that provides great views.

Lots of flowers on the short hike to the lookout tower.

Five kids ready to hike

Seneca Creek down below

Seneca Creek

We finished at the Seneca Creek Trailhead and planned on walking the road back to the cars, but we were able to hitch a ride with a woman who had just finished up a trail work trip, so we did not have to walk the couple miles back to the car.

Great weather and the kids had fun with their cousins, so a great trip

Point Reyes

Point Reyes and Samuel P. Taylor State Park
6/20 - 6/22/22 (2 nights)
2022 Bag Nights: 15

I drove over from Yosemite and got settled into my campsite at Samuel P Taylor SP and then drove over to Point Reyes to start exploring.

First stop was Tomales Point to see if I could see some elk, preview: lots of elk

Song Sparrow

Tons of lupine blooming all over the place

This guy popped up out of a hole right in the middle of the trail. He saw me and disappeared. I decided to see if he would stick his head up again and after about a minute he did.

Lots of elk before this one, but first reasonable photo

So many flowers

California Red-sided Garter Snake, still don't like snakes

Down to McClures Beach for the sunset

Day 2: Up early and off to Abbots Lagoon, I hoped to find otters but no such luck, lots of birds instead.

Another Sparrow

Scrub Jay

Quail

A badger? Only a couple shots and then it disappeared.

California Killer Rabbit, run away!

Abbots Lagoon

The tidal flats near the beach were crawling with birds and only a couple other hikers out early.

Immature Great Blue Heron?

Don't know?

Pelicans, seagull, and Merganser Duck?

Immature Great Blue Heron?

White Egret

Brewer's Blackbird?

Then over to Drakes Beach to find Elephant Seals

Chimney Rock from Drakes Beach

Then up to check out the lighthouse, the path to the lighthouse ended up being shut so no good photos or the lighthouse. But great views looking north at Point Reyes Beach

Over towards Chimney Rock and down to the Elephant Seal lookout

Drakes Beach in the distance

Old Lifeboat Station

Whales

Coast Guard

Sea Lions down below

Over to Limantour Spit for the sunset. I first hiked the couple miles down to Coast Camp to see what the backpacking would have been like. Hot and exposed, probably would have been fun.